5-in-1 ration
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 5-in-1 ration was a United States army ration used from 1942 to the early 1950's throughout and after World War II. It was developed by the SR&DL to allow small groups of soldiers or large groups divided into multiple units to cook meals without the need of complex kitchen utensils or cooking skill. The military originally planned for the rations to be used by troops on trains without kitchen cars, armored vehicle crews, or gun crews. By 1943, the ration was most successful in North Africa. However, once the 10-in-1 ration program was ended in 1948 due to it being less flexible, the "Ration, Small-Detachment, 5-in-1" was developed to replace it. Even so, the 5-in-1 ration eventually became obsolete as the C-Ration became the standard US Military ration.
The 5-in-1 ration contained:
- Beverages
- Butter spread
- 10 varieties of canned meat combinations
- Canned bread or type V biscuits
- Can openers
- Cellulose tape
- Cereal
- Cheese spread
- Cigarettes
- Dehydrated soups
- 5 varieties of jam
- Evaporated milk
- Fruit
- Fruit juice
- Hard candy
- Paper towels
- 3 varieties of pudding
- Soap
- Sponge
- Sugar
- Toilet paper
- 6 varieties of vegetables
- Water-purification tablets
